Holy Order
June 16, 2024
Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever ~
Recently I came across the article on the other side of this page about decluttering. I thought it was good enough, and simple enough, to make a pastor’s column about it. More specifically about the importance of order.
My office is a mess, always has been. That’s interesting to me because my home is fairly tidy and always has been. I can’t explain the discrepancy. Yet I really want to clean up and organize my office, it would make me feel better, help to declutter my mind, and would provide greater clarity to my ministry. So why hasn’t it happened? Again, I can’t give a reason, but I do have a desire to change that aspect of my life, perhaps this summer (he says every summer). Perhaps I need to calendar it, that’s the idea, treat it like any other ongoing responsibility. I calendar correspondence and have secretary (Marybeth) help me with that, going so far as to have her sit there while I write cards. It has done wonders with staying caught up.
We see order in all of God’s work, the macro to the micro. From the universe and its billion plus galaxies, to the billion stars within each of those galaxies (average), to all the planets circling those stars (solar systems), to the moons attached to those planets, to all the creatures on earth (too numerous to count), to the order within our bodies, organs, billion cells within each human being, the immense order of our DNA, to the order of our relationships. Order is essential for families, government, workplaces, and the Church. Order is so important to God, that He made a sacrament of it: Holy Orders.
Without the sacrament of Holy Orders, there would be no priesthood and no Church. Remember, Jesus Christ established His Church upon twelve priests (Apostles). For better or worse, the Church rises and falls upon her priests. Without them we are doomed, with them we can be saved. Holy priests are a plus, but should not be an expectation, unless you think you are holy and hold everyone else to that standard. While the sacrament of Holy Orders doesn’t necessarily give us holiness, it does give the Church life.
Every “body” has a hierarchy: the universe, the earth, the animal kingdom, families, government, business, and the Church. Without order and the hierarchy it necessitates, life is simply not possible. That is true too for the one Church that God ever established: the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. Without order she crumbles. Without the authority principle in the priesthood, she descends into countless confused, dying, protestant sects.
Turning back now to the mundane: our cluttered, disorganized lives. Please put some prayer toward your desire to organize your life. “In vain does the laborer labor who doesn’t labor in the Lord.” Pray about bringing order to your life, from your family, to finances, to home, garage, and yard, to the office. Then make a plan. If we don’t make a plan, then we plan for failure. Then start with one small doable thing, low hanging fruit that makes you feel good and helps you get into a rhythm. Then keep going.
In heaven everything is in perfect order. Heaven would not be heaven without it. Create a little piece of heaven on earth by bringing some much-needed order to your life. By the grace of God, you can do it. Now read the other side of this page.
May Almighty God Bless You,
Fr. Thomas Nathe
A practical Catholic approach to decluttering for spring
https://aleteia.org/2024/04/17/a-practical-catholic-approach-to-decluttering-for-spring/
Daniel Esparza - published on 04/17/24
Letting go of unused items creates space, both literally and figuratively, for what really matters.
Spring bursts forth with life. It is a natural invitation to refresh and renew. Catholics can extend this renewal beyond their homes, into their spiritual lives. Spring cleaning is an opportunity to declutter not only physical spaces, but also hearts and minds.
Just as Jesus urged detachment from material possessions (Matthew 6:19-21), think of spring cleaning as an exercise in detachment. As you sort through your belongings, be thankful for the abundance in your life and then ask yourself: Does this serve a real purpose? Can someone else benefit more from this? Letting go of unused items creates space, both literally and figuratively, for what really matters.
Decluttering with gratitude
But decluttering doesn’t mean becoming emotionless. Some possessions hold precious memories. Think of your storage space not as a dumping ground, but as an archive for precious keepsakes. Make sure you treat them with due respect. As you go through your boxes, make sure you see its contents and allow them to inspire gratitude for the blessings received – and that we so often overlook or even forget about.
This focus on what really matters aligns perfectly with Luke 3:11: “He who has two tunics should give to him who has none; and he who has food should do likewise.” Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to identify items that you no longer use but that could bring great joy to others.
Sharing abundance
Consider donating clothing, books, or household items to charities, shelters, neighbors, or even family members who might need and cherish them. By sharing your abundance, you make room for a lighter heart, closer to God.
The act of cleaning itself can also be a spiritual practice. Saints from all times were perfectly aware of the fact that there is a meditative dimension to manual labor. Use your imagination and allow yourself to see every task as a metaphor for something. You can think of dusting off cobwebs as clearing away distractions that cloud your connection to God. Washing windows allows you to see the world with new clarity. Offer each action as a prayer, a small act of service in gratitude for God’s blessings.
Spring cleaning isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s an opportunity to cultivate a more Christ-centered life. Through mindful decluttering, cherishing memories, and sharing with those in need, you prepare your physical and spiritual home for the newness that spring brings in.
